Full-time RVers travel all year. And for that reason, many will come across a time when they need to research winter RVing, tips for winter camping or maybe winter camping in RV Parks nearby!

During the colder months of the year, many RVers will flock to southern states where weather is more favorable- AKA the sun is still shining, and flip flops are a natural option. For these folks finding snowbird RV parks in Arizona might be best search options. On the other hand, people who have made a decision to RV this winter in a cold weather state, where keeping warm is a big concern, then tips on winter camping and how to survive winter camping in RV Parks, might be first on the list.

2 Ways of Winter Camping in RV Parks

For some, it can simply mean RVing as usual in a warm (or warmer than freezing) location throughout the coder months of the year.

For others, it can mean actually RVing in winter conditions in places from Georgia to Washington state, and everywhere in-between, where freezing temps can make or break your day.

Either way, this Guide to Winter RVing is perfect for you!

In this Ultimate Guide to Winter RVing you’ll find information on:

Top Tips for Winter Camping in Your RV

Winter RVing Gear Recommendations

Year Round RV Parks in 3 Popular Snowbird Destinations

Florida

Arizona

California

Tips for Winter Camping in RVs

Most people can RV during the spring and summer months with no problems. RVing is pretty straightforward, once you have the hang of it right. Pick a site, back-in, setup your connections, and start a fire… simple!

We all have our won way of making each campsite feel like home, and we usually don’t have big issues like keeping snow and rain out, heat in, pipes warm, and so forth.

But for folks who choose to stay in a cold weather location during the winter month, they’ll need to do just that, plus plenty more! And trust me, it’s not all bad. In fact, just like RVing in the summer, once you know what you’re doing and have a system in place with the tools you need to get it all done, you won’t thin twice about any of it.

But before you reach that place of utopia, you might need a little help with tips and tricks to make your winter camping in RV life, easy and comfortable. Start with these tips for winter camping.

Top 12 Tips for Winter Camping in RVs

Keeping tanks and valves from freezing is a big task. If your RV did not come with tank heater, you can buy them and install yourself.

Don’t leave your regular water hose connected if the temperature will drop below freezing at night or during the day. You’ll need to wrap and insulate your hose or buy a heated hose.

You can keep your tanks from freezing by using RV antifreeze while winter camping in RV parks or campgrounds. Just flush it down the toilet and your sinks into your grey/black water tanks to help keep the contents from freezing up before you have the chance to dump. (DO NOT ADD TO YOUR FRESHWATER TANK!!!)

Make sure to wrap all exposed pipes and connections with heat tape (heating cable for water pipes) and insulation to prevent them from freezing in winter camping weather.

If your spigot freezes you might be able to use a blow dryer to defrost it. Depending on how much ice has formed this is an easy fix to frozen lines in a pinch.

Mini space heaters are a great solution to warm the underbelly of your RV, when done with safety precautions in mind. They can really help keep plumbing from freezing, especially when used with RV skirting.

Only dump your holding tanks, while winter camping in RV campgrounds, once they are full! Doing so with less than ample contents, could allow things to freeze up in the hose.

Vent cover can help provide an extra solution to condensation and ventilation. They block out the weather elements while allowing those enjoying the days of winter RVing to ventilate their rigs.

Make sure to use a cotton cloth to wipe down all windows and walls where condensation has formed. It might be an additional daily task to keep up with during the winter months, but it will help you to keep mold from developing.

Examine the seals around your windows and make sure they are in good condition. They may need to be caulked if necessary.

Extra throw rugs on the floors is a simple way to keep your feet warm and add some extra insulation to the floor.

You can also use reflective foil on your windows to insulate them while winter RVing. Just pick up a roll and cut to size, then stuff up against your windows. This simple trick will help reflect the heat back into the RV.

It’s unavoidable! You’ll need a few special tools, gadgets and additions to your normal RVing gear to make living in your RV this winter easy, comfortable and hassle-free! Let’s take a look at what items are recommended for RVing this winter!

A Dehumidifier

An essential in winter RVing! You’ll want to purchase even a small dehumidifier for you RV. With indoor heaters and cold air outside, condensation can really build up on your windows and sometimes in your walls!

Keeping the air as dry as possible is a really good idea.

Space Heater

Some people couldn’t RV in the winter without at least 1 of these babies… others wouldn’t think of ever owning one. I personally, go with the first group and keep 1-2 on hand all winter long.

They can easily help keep the interior warm while helping you save on propane and take full advantage of non-metered RV sites. ***I do caution against leaving them plugged in round the clock or when you’re not home. But these awesome heater/fans by Dyson are fabulous!!!

Heat Tape

You will need to keep you water spigot warm to prevent freezing while winter RVing in cold weather destinations. Sometimes the RV park will handle this and sometimes, it’s on you to figure it out and make sure it’s done right. Luckily, it’s pretty easy to buy the heating cable for water pipes and warp it around your spigot with some insulation tape and zip ties.

One thing to make sure of, is that you’ve wrapped all the exposed plumbing. Just wrapping the vertical pipe won’t always cut it. Sometimes, and most often, you’ll need to wrap the handle as well.

Insulation

Just a little bit of extra protection can go a long way. Wrap your spigot with this insulation, over your heating cable and then zip ties into place. It’ll keep your spigot from freezing… as long as you plug in the heating cable.

Heated Hose

A great solution to winter RVing, freezing water hoses, and also the need to wrap and insulate your RV water hose. A heated water hose will save you much time, especially if you’re hopping around a few different destinations this winter. Just plug it in, hook it up and you’ll have water.

RV Vents Covers

An RV Vent cover can help provide an extra solution to condensation and ventilation. They block out the weather elements while allowing those enjoying the days of winter RVing to ventilate their rigs.

Snowbird Destinations for Winter RVing with Nice Weather…

Next, we’ll talk more about options for the RVers who want to avoid the cold weather of winter by choosing to flock to snowbird destinations in the south.

This is a common routine for many full-time, part-time and seasonal RVers who have their sights set on chasing warm temperatures between 65-85 degrees, 365 days a year!

If this sounds like your cup of tea, take a look at the following snowbird destinations:

Snowbird Destinations for Winter RVing in Florida

From the Panhandle to the Key, Florida has much to offer winter RV campers! Take a look at my top 3 recommendations for snowbird destinations in Floirda, then check out the list of KOA campgrounds nearby.

Panhandle:

Full of great camping options, both private and state funded, the Panhandle of Florida is a popular snowbird destination for those in search of an east coast retreat.

Orlando:

Who can resist hopping around from Thousand Trails Park with a mobs of other full-timers? You’ll do the Florida shuffle and save tons of cash doing it. Orlando is centrally located and provides tons of tourist attractions to keep you busy all winter long!

The Keys:

The perfect winter getaway! Diving down to The Keys is an iconic road trip, not everyone has the ability to say they’ve had. With beach front camping as well as a variety of state parks, if you can afford the prices, this is the ultimate winter destination!

Camping in Florida this winter? Check out the year-round RV campgrounds offered by KOA.

This location has great attractions! It has a 9 hole golf course, driving range, and putting green. It is also nearby Lake Okeechobee. There are even more like tennis, a fitness center, pickleball, hiking, etc.

This park is unique in that it offers private back-in RV sites with full hookup. So perfect place to visit if you love your privacy! It also overs hot tubs, pools, volleyball, shuffleboard, kayaking, dog parks, etc.

This place has warm temperatures all of the time. It also offers a lot of outdoor activities like basketball, horseshoes, pools, etc. Then it offers a full clubhouse with games, books, activity rooms, and more.

Snowbird Destinations for Winter RVing in California

So many options, they’re truly endless! California is my favorite snowbird destination for winter RVing. Take a look at my top 2 recommendations for snowbird destinations in California, then check out the list of KOA campgrounds nearby.

Palm Dessert:

We stayed at the beautiful Thousand Palms Resort, by Thousand Trails and enjoyed the view of big, beautiful palm trees towering over rows of RV sites on paved roads. The area is close HWY10 and has easy in and out access with summer like weather.

San Diego:

Who can resist the million and one things to do in sunny San Diego County! Beaches, museums, live music, shopping and plenty more will keep event the pickiest RVer in the best of moods!

Camping in California this winter? Check out the year-round RV campgrounds offered by KOA.

Year Round RV Parks: KOA RV Campground Near Me in California

Surrounded by beautiful mountains, and close to so many attractions! You can sleep under the stars gazing at the mountains. During the day, you can go to them parks, museums, beaches, shopping places, restaurants, and more!

This location offers an “Old West” theme and treats your family like it’s theirs. Who wouldn’t want to stay?

Snowbird Destinations for Winter RVing in Arizona

So many options, they’re truly endless! Arizona offers winter camping in RV campground and RV park adventure around each corner. Take a look at the top 4 recommendations for snowbird destinations in Arizona, then check out the list of KOA campgrounds nearby.

Grand Canyon:

You have to go see it! The South Rim, is open all year and is a great bucket list item to check off while your in the area. Within the Grand Canyon Village, there are is at least one RV campground, with other just a short drive away.

Tucson:

Enjoy the magnificent sunsets of the desert, with many winter camping options to choose from. A charming area to visit this time of the year, you’ll enjoy ideal temperatures, clear skies, and warm water at the closet swimming pool.

Sedona:

The red rocks are calling. The only question is if you’ll answer! Sedona is a paradise for travelers in the middle of the desert state. It offer canyons, spas, red rock formations and tons more to explore.

Verde Valley:

While it did get a little colder than expected during my stay at the Cottonwood RV Park, the Verde Valley is the perfect place to stay to visit Montezumas Castle

Camping in Arizona this winter? Check out the year-round RV campgrounds offered by KOA.

Year Round RV Parks: KOA RV Campground Near Me in Arizona

This a great campground for RV families who are looking to explore in a tourist way. This KOA is the “gateway to Tombstone, Bisbee, Kartchner Caverns and Chiricahua National Monument. You can enjoy the campground and then take a short drive to discover.

This site is located not far from the Superstition Mountains, which Teddy Roosevelt called the “most beautiful panorama nature has created.” It’s a must-see site and located so close to a number of outdoor activities.

This campground is located in Seligman, a town that hosts the longest remain of Historic Route 66. Come here to participate in loads of tourist activities all around and warm weather in the wintertime.

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